GE Investors Looking for Calm This Quarter After Painful Slide

Don’t be surprised if there are fewer fireworks than usual when General Electric Co. briefs investors on Friday. After one of the most turbulent and transformative quarters in GE’s history, investors are eager to see whether the changes underway can halt a slide that has wiped out about $114 billion of shareholder wealth in a year. Chief Executive Officer John Flannery has promised a renewed focus on execution while shrinking corporate operations, improving cash flow and making the portfolio smaller and less complex.